OCEAN TOWNSHIP, New Jersey — A 67-year-old man is accused of beating his wife of nearly 40 years to death with a barbell inside their home — and then texting their adult children to tell them what he had done.
Michael A. Kless faces charges of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said.
His wife, 66-year-old Stacy E. Kless, was found dead inside the couple’s home on the 100 block of Seward Drive.
How Police Were Called to the Scene
Officers responded around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after receiving two calls reporting a murder at the home.
When they arrived, they found Stacy Kless “obviously deceased” inside the residence.
Her husband was quickly identified as the suspect. Police located him unconscious in his vehicle at a rest stop off the Garden State Parkway. He was rushed to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
He Texted the Kids — Then Sent an Email
According to a probable cause arrest warrant obtained by the Asbury Park Press, Michael Kless contacted his two adult children by text after the killing to admit what he had done.
He also sent an emailed confession to another individual.
That email reportedly described a “long-simmering hatred” of his wife, his involvement in a new intimate relationship with a woman from Central America, and a detailed account of the murder itself — one that matched physical evidence found at the scene.
He also reportedly told his children he planned to end his own life by taking prescription pills.
A Work Crew Saw Him at the Door
About 30 minutes before police were called, a work crew arrived at the home for a previously scheduled repair appointment.
According to the arrest warrant, when Michael Kless answered the door, he had a scratch on his face. He told the crew to reschedule and sent them away.
‘Nobody Saw This Coming’
The couple had been married for 39 years and had grandchildren together.
Ocean Township Mayor John P. Napolitani Sr. said the killing has left the tight-knit community shaken.
“Nobody saw this coming,” the mayor told the Asbury Park Press. “There was not a clue this was going to happen.”
The case remains under active investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Did this story shock you? Share your reaction in the comments — this is the kind of case that leaves an entire community searching for answers.
